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Park board votes to create urban forestry board

By Greg Eckstrom

Editor

With the emerald ash borer moving into Iowa, and with the city of Boone expecting to face this issue very soon, the city park commission voted at its meeting Monday to create an urban forestry board within the city.

The proposal, brought forth by Commissioner Dr. Jack Murphy, would create a board, made up of individuals from several different entities, to meet with the goal of maintaining a healthy, well-managed multi-culture of appropriate and desirable tree species.

The committee would be comprised by the Park Commission head Mike Swarts, but Murphy suggested a committee that might include Director of Parks and Public Works John Rouse, the city’s urban forester Mike Cornelis, City Administrator Luke Nelson, Commissioner Everett Johnson, Lauren and Greg Eckstrom, Murphy and a city council member.

The committee would restore and maintain the city’s tree survey, identify and define problems, seek out funding sources and implement GPS technology for a tree survey. It would also explore emerald ash borer issues and solutions, look at alternative replant species and look at timing for removing or treating current ash trees in the city.

“We currently have 1,200 to 1,500 ash trees in the city,” Murphy said. “There is a treatment that will give you about a 50 percent survival over 20 years of specimen trees. The treatment is a few dollars per year and a lot cheaper at taking them out at $900 per tree.”

That cost, Commissioner Everett Johnson said, is one that other cities – such as Johnston – is looking at in preparing for the arrival of the emerald ash borer. An urban forestry committee could look at the feasibility of treatment, as well as plans for tree removal and replacement.

The motion to create the committee was approved 3-1, with Commissioner Taylor Tidgren voting ‘Nay.’

Commissioners also discussed the tree appeals process and the possibility of approaching the city with a proposal to change city code on the matter.

The current tree appeals process starts with the urban forester – Cornelis – with the appeals process next going to the city’s Public Safety and Transportation Committee and then to the city council. Commissioner Everett Johnson argued that the decision should stay with Cornelis, but appeals should next be made to the park board and then to the city council.